所 + verb (nominalizer)

Structure (Subject +) 所 + transitive verb

所 (suǒ) precedes a transitive verb and nominalizes it, turning it into "that which is [verb]ed": the focus falls on the OBJECT of the action. From this come very common set phrases in written and formal register: 据我所知 "as far as I know", 所见所闻 "what one sees and hears". It is the foundation of two other C1 structures: the literary relative 所…的 and the passive 为…所…. On its own, 所+verb sounds formal and orderly, typical of essays and the press.

Examples

据jù我wǒ所suǒ知zhī，会huì议yì已yǐ经jīng取qǔ消xiāo了le。
As far as I know, the meeting has already been cancelled.
这zhè次cì旅lǚ行xíng的de所suǒ见jiàn所suǒ闻wén让ràng我wǒ深shēn受shòu触chù动dòng。
What I saw and heard on this trip moved me deeply.
他tā所suǒ做zuò的de一yī切qiè都dōu是shì为wèi了le家jiā庭tíng。
Everything he does is for the sake of his family.
言yán行xíng不bù一yī，所suǒ言yán非fēi所suǒ行xíng。
His words and deeds don't match: what he says is not what he does.

This point and the other 370, with audio on every example, inside Wanyu.

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